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Peugeot's e-2008 delivered the full-EV formula to the smallest segment of the SUV market - and in a trendy, very lifestyle-orientated package. It looks snappy, does at least 193 miles between charges, has no practicality downsides over the combustion-engined version and comes with monthly payment finance you could justify. In short, there's plenty to like in early versions of this model.
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History
The e-2008 small SUV is Peugeot's second full electric model, introduced as the brand implements its strategy of providing an electrified derivative of every one of its cars by 2023. It's all apparently part of the company's philosophy of 'Unboring the Future' by offering customers the option of switching to a full-electric powertrain without compromising on space, technology, looks or driving sensation.
It shares all the same engineering we've already also seen in two other PSA Group small battery-powered lifestyle SUVs, the DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE and Vauxhall's Mokka-e, designs that, like this one, share this Peugeot's sophisticated CMP ('Common Modular Platform'). Plus those same underpinnings allow for a new generation of 'big car'-style camera safety systems. The e-2008 sold in its original form until mid-2023, when it was significantly facelifted. It's the pre-facelift version though, that we look at here.
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What you get
The all-electric e-2008 is pretty difficult to distinguish from what Peugeot calls its 'thermic'-powered models, though brand loyalists might spot this EV variant's colour-coded front grille, subtle 'e'-badging and a more unusual 'Dichroic' finish for the lion badge that appears to change colour, depending on your viewing angle.
As with the brand's 208 supermini, the front end is probably the most immediately arresting part of the design, with distinctive LED corner 'fangs' that flow up into the three-claw LED headlight signature. Look further up and you'll note the pared-back windscreen that makes the carved bonnet more horizontal.
There's also plenty in the muscular profile to catch the eye, with a high beltline, various repeating triangular lines and lots of intricate surfacing that must have made the panel pressing a real technical feat. Wheel sizes on mainstream variants are either 16 or 17-inches, but top versions (recognisable by their 'diamond black' roof colouring) feature bigger diamond-cut 18-inch rims,
At the rear, the avant garde theme continues, with exact design and tautly-drawn shaping. The 3D tail lamps again feature that 3-claw signature and are linked by a black band running the width of the boot lid, emphasising this second generation 2008 model's extra width.
Inside, there's the usual 2008 'i-Cockpit' driving position format, where you view the instrument binnacle over the upper rim of a tiny steering wheel rather than conventionally through the wheel spokes. Plus, as with other versions of this model, the concept's been further developed with the addition of a clever 3D instrument binnacle display.
What else? Well rear passenger space is much better than in an e-208 but still slightly compromised by the need to place the powertrain's battery pack beneath that back seat. Still, even with a six-foot tall driver up-front, someone of similar height could sit behind comfortably.
The EV drive layout doesn't compromise boot space, which is 434-litres in capacity just like any other 2008 and extendable to 1,467-litres with the back seat folded.
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What to look for
Most e-2008 buyers we came across seemed satisfied. But inevitably there were a few issues. We've heard of issues with the electric power steering system caused by a malfunctioning steering rack or pump. And there have been reports of excessive tyre wear on versions with 17-inch alloy wheels. You also need to thoroughly check the infotainment system, which has been known to develop issues, freezing or crashing without warning. This can be caused by software glitches, which require the set-up to be updated or reset. You might also find the central screen has slow response times, which can be due to an overloaded processor or insufficient memory.
A few owners reported issues with the sound quality from the speakers, caused by problems with speaker wiring. We've heard problems with the air conditioning system not cooling properly during hot weather conditions. This can be due to a faulty compressor, a refrigerant leak or a blocked condenser. Some owners have also reported problems with the central locking system malfunctioning. Otherwise, it's just the usual things; check the interior for child scrapes - and the wheels and rear bumpers for parking scratches. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.
Obviously, you'll need to check the charging system. If the car won't charge, it could be a problem with your home electrics (or those at the public charge point you're using). Check the charge light to make sure that electricity really is going through the charge port. And make sure there really is charge in the socket you're using to power from - plug something else into it to see - say, your 'phone. If that charges OK, it could be that your charging cable is demanding too much power, so try another power source. Another problem could be that the circuit may have tripped due to a circuit overload. Or perhaps there could be a problem with the charge cable: this needs to be cared for properly. Repeatedly driving over it (as previous owners may conceivably have done) will damage it eventually. Make sure you do a charge-up before signing for the car you're looking at. When you do this, make sure that when you plug in to start the charge cycle you hear the charge port and the cable locking and engaging as they should; that's all part of the charger basically confirming with the car's onboard computer that everything's good to go before releasing power. But if the charging cable fails to lock as it should, then that won't happen. If there is a failure to lock, the issue could be actuator failure, caused by a blown fuse.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a 2020 e-2008 1.2 excl. VAT) Front brake pads vary in price between £16-£31 for a set; rear pads are around £46. For front brake discs, think around £33-£100 for a pair. A door mirror glass is about £18; a door mirror indicator about £22.
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On the road
The tech spec here is, predictably, the same as you get in an e-208, so (as there) a 100kW electric motor putting out 136bhp works through the usual single-speed auto transmission you get with EVs. As usual with a battery-powered model, all of the available torque is pretty much developed at once (there's 260Nm of it) and this car simply hurls itself away from rest (it takes just a couple of seconds to crest the 30mph mark and 60mph is reached in only 8.5s), disguising the fact that (also like all EVs) this Zero Emissions variant has a bit of a weight problem - that drivetrain adds over 300kgs of bulk.
On top of that, this model's 50kWh lithium-ion battery is significantly smaller than the 64kWh one you'll find in, say, a Kia e-Niro or a Hyundai Kona Electric from this period, which accounts for the fact that this French EV crossover can't travel quite as far on a single charge as those two rivals. Still, just under 200 miles of electrified drive capability will probably be ample for most likely family buyers - and Peugeot that figure well over the 200 mark with later '21 and '22-plate versions of this model. Ride quality's pretty good providing you avoid the largest 18-inch wheel size we have here. Those big rims fill the arches better but they give the ride a rather more brittle feel. Recharging takes 7.5 hours from a 7kW garage wallbox.
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Overall
You can see why someone might really like the idea of an early e-2008. It has all the style of Peugeot's e-208 supermini but with a significant amount of extra practicality. It's considerably more stylish than similarly-sized EV Crossover rivals from Kia and Hyundai. And it's quite a lot cheaper than a BMW i3 of this period. But you've still really got to be bought into the whole idea of having an EV to want one.
Even if you are, you've still got to like quirky Peugeot innovations like the unusual 'i-Cockpit' steering wheel and the 3D instrument set-up, but we think cars like this one need design touches of that sort. Models of this kind ought to be fashionable, forward-thinking and just a little controversial. The e-2008 is: if you are too and you can afford to make the price jump to a full-EV, we think you'll like it a lot.
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